MatosTaco's Build Thread

9-1-2016
I hit an autocross with both my Tacoma and Miata a few weeks back. It was my brother's first time at an autocross and he drove the Miata. I slapped some 17x10 RPF1s on bald 255 width Hankook RS3s on the Tacoma to try them out. I should have kept my regular wheels on as my 235 Michelin PSS are in much better shape. I would have gotten better times. Oh well, new tires for the RPF1s are on their way.











Got some love on Instagram




My buddy Aaron brought his Evo out and got surrounded by STIs... Day 5, they still haven't noticed I'm not a Subaru...

 

11-06-2016 I had the tires removed from the RPF1s, hit them with aircraft stripper to remove the black paint the previous owner sprayed on them, and got some new Michelin Pilot Super Sports in 245 width. I'm hoping to take the wheels to get powder coated soon.

 

11-12-2016

 

One of the LEDs in my gage cluster blew out, so I got some new ones. I've been wanting to change things up, so I got red ones. I also ordered a new head unit.


Dash apart for install




Cluster LEDs. Too much light leaking where I don't want it, I'll have to find a way to clean it up some.




The LED in the ac control area came out perfect, no light spilling anywhere (picture does it no justice). Also, I couldn't be any happier

with the head unit, it's a Pioneer Avic NEX and it's pretty darn sweet! I still haven't decided on a back up cam, so I will have some extra wiring to perform once I do.

 

11-24-2016 Having started a round of interior mods, I felt the need to keep going. I daily my truck, so I wanted a whole new feel inside of it. So I decided to do what I did in my Miata and made new door panels.


I ordered 1/8" ABS sheets from McMaster and traced my door cards onto them.







I used a paint marker for this purpose

 

11-24-2016 I cut the new door cards out using a jig saw




Then I drilled all the holes using centering guides I 3D printed so all the clip holes were spot on




Followed by cutting out all the openings with the jig saw and a hole saw (for the window crank lever opening)

I also test fit the door pocket and was happy to see it pop right on.

 

11-24-2016
I then took a trip to JoAnn Fabrics to buy cloth to upholster the door panels in


I really liked this stuff, but it wouldn't match my interior. Someone should definitely snatch it up and use it for their Miata!




I ended up finding a black microsuede that was much nicer than the stuff I used in the Miata...and more expensive. Just like with the Miata,

I ironed the wrinkles out of the microsuede (use plenty of steam for this) and coated the door cards in headliner/carpet spray. Once the spray had set for 5 min, I pressed the door cards into the cloth, making sure not to leave any wrinkles. The glue will be tacky, so it allows room to adjust.




I went to a Friendsgiving at my friend's house, so the door cards sat like this for a few days.

 

11-24-2016
I then took a razor blade and cut the material at the edges where the crash pad and speaker cover/door pocket go, only leaving material to fold over in the areas that don't get covered by these items (just like the factory upholstery)




I also used the razor to cut out all the holes




Then I sprayed the back of the door card and folder over the material that needed to be folded




I then cleaned up all the edges that don't fold over and the edges of the holes using a microtorch. In the case of the holes, I ran the torch from the back of the door card, such that the flame shot through the holes and cleaned up the edge of the material without risk of burning off the nice suede on the front.




This process keeps you from having fuzzy edges that will come undone over time




Then I assembled the door pockets and crash pads to the door cards

 

11-27-2016 I went back to the fabric store and bought the rest of the roll of microsuede. It was 60% off thanks to Black Friday specials, so I got the whole roll for $19. Time to suede all of the things!

 

12-09-2016 I dropped my wheels off for powder coat at a place called Best Finishers in Miami. They did a great job on my wheels! If you're in South Florida and want them to do your wheels, call them up at 305-688-8174


Dropping them off (one was already inside from when I got a quote)




The results, they powdercoated every last inch






Got the tires mounted




Ended up with way more stretch than I wanted. Unfortunately, Michelin doesn't make a Pilot Super Sport in 255 for a 17" wheel.

I will definitely be stepping up to 255 steam roller tires in the future.

 

12-22-2016 My phone can't capture just how awesome it looks on these wheels, I will have to call on my photographer friends and do a proper photoshoot!

 

12-22-2016 Scored a set of 17x9 Volk TE37 at a great price

 

12-22-2016 Did a quick test fit with one. They will have to be re-finished and shod in proper tires before they go on though. I'm thinking I'll use these for autocross for a while and then sell them.

 

01-05-2017 I'd recently developed an odd vibration. Upon looking at my shocks, I realized the top nut came loose, releasing the tension created by the bushing, allowing the shock rod to deviate. I'd noticed one of my shock rods had worn down a bit in the past due to this. This time however, the situation was much worse.


Looks ok right...?




Or not...

When I went to re-tighten the driver's side, the top portion of the shock rod popped right off. The passenger's side was better off, but not by much.




Here you can see that the driver's side shock was even rubbing the shock body and wearing it down, no bueno!




This happened right before New Year's weekend, and knowing I had to drive to work the next week, I ordered some new QA1s (the lighting and angles make them appear different diameters, don't panic; they're the same in real life.)




Assembled

 

The shock rods didn't just damage themselves, they ate through the metal on the upper shock cup


Driver's side




Passenger's side




There was only one possible solution, to drop in a washer...




...and weld it. Of course, it's impossible to get your head in that space with a welding helmet on, so you have to weld

blind and sort of hope it turns out ok. While the welds certainly aren't pretty, they did come out strong.

 

1-05-2017
I have a feeling that later on I will buy a pipe and weld some in such that the bushings are walled off and cannot move sideways.


Anyhow, the QA1 instructions state that the threads on the shock body should be coated in Permatex anti-seize (yes, brand specific lol), so I did that before putting them in




The instructions also call for the anti-seize to be added between the height adjustment washer and the spring seat washer that sits on it (just a flat stainless washer that keeps the spring from scratching up the anodized black washer and also allows it to slide on it)




I got them both evenly coated in the stuff

 

2-16-2017
I recently got my shop tidied up with help from my girlfriend, clearly the space needed a feminine touch. My bike is now hanging from the ceiling and not on the floor taking up space. The clear floor leaves so much room for activities!



I also got some new shelving to put in and many truck mods. Unfortunately, I lost three days last week, hospitalized due to a chest pain that lasted all of 45 minutes but required a few days of testing and observation before they determined I was alright. They suspect I had myocarditis, but there were no signs of inflammation, THANK GOD!

 

2-16-2017
The garage is looking a little cleaner at the moment because I sold my Evo 8 Enkeis and I dropped the TE37s off at Best Finishers to be powder coated. Before doing so, I removed the "authenticity" stickers. Peep the date, these wheels are old! I initially tried to remove the Rays/TE37 stickers, but they were really hard so I left that up to the powder guy, he'll sandblast them anyway.

 

I also scooped up a set of ARP extended studs and the requisite extended lug nuts. I can't wait to get these installed! These lugnuts can be tightened without the tool scratching the TE37s, which my shorter lug nuts did when I test fitted the one wheel.








Best of all, the bolts won't protrude through the mounting cup of the Enkeis very much, if at all. I'm not a major fan of lugnuts poking out of the cup.

 

2-16-2017 I also got myself an SRunner front sway bar which should complement my SRunner rear sway bar perfectly.



01-04 trucks also ran a shorter, balljoint style end link, which I will be using now and getting an extra performance benefit. Nothing like fresh Toyota parts with my name on them



I had these extra Energy suspension sway bar bushings lying around and now I'll finally be able to use them